Strawberry plant named ‘Taia’

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a new and distinct strawberry plant designated as ‘Taia’ (a.k.a. ‘108825’).

Latin name of the genus and species: Fragaria×ananassa.

Varietal denominations: ‘Taia’ (a.k.a. ‘108825’).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct strawberry variety designated as ‘Taia’ (a.k.a. ‘108825’).

‘Taia’ (a.k.a. ‘108825’) is the result of a controlled-cross between a female parent cultivar designated 106734 and a male parent cultivar designated 103474 (both unpatented, proprietary cultivars) made by the Inventor and was first fruited in Watsonville, Calif. growing fields. Following selection and during testing, the plant was originally designated ‘108825’ and subsequently named ‘Taia’.

This new variety was asexually reproduced via runners (stolons) by the inventor at Watsonville, Calif. Asexual propagules from the original source have been tested in Watsonville growing fields and to a limited extent, grower fields in high elevation. The properties of this variety were found to be transmissible by such asexual reproduction. This cultivar is stable and reproduces true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and distinctive strawberry cultivar designated as ‘Taia’. These cultivars are primarily adapted to the climate and growing conditions of the central coast of California. This region provides the necessary temperatures required for it to produce a strong vigorous plant and to remain in fruit production from March through October. The nearby Pacific Ocean provides the needed humidity and moderate day temperatures and evening chilling to maintain fruit quality for the production months.

The following traits and photographs in combination distinguish strawberry variety ‘Taia’ from known strawberry varieties. In addition, this new cultivar was confirmed to be a unique strawberry germplasm when tested against the California Seed & Plant Lab, Inc. (Elverta, Calif.) database using Short Sequence Repeats (SSRs). Plants for the botanical measurements in the present application were grown as annuals. Any color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The fruit produced by this new cultivar is attractive and of excellent quality.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color photographs depict various characteristics of the cultivars as nearly true as possible to make color reproductions.

FIG. 1 shows ‘Taia’ plants with ripe and near-ripe fruits.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up look of ‘Taia’ plants in the field with near-ripe fruits, showing the details of the flowers, leaves and petiole.

FIG. 3 shows ‘Taia’ plant leaves with petioles.

FIG. 4 shows a close-up look of a ‘Taia’ plant leaf.

FIG. 5 shows flower petals and sepals of ‘Taia’ plant.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

‘Taia’ (a.k.a. ‘108825’)

This invention relates to a new and distinctive day-neutral type cultivar designated as ‘Taia’. It is primarily adapted to the climate and growing conditions of the central coast of California. This region provides the necessary temperatures required for it to produce a strong vigorous plant and to remain in fruit production from March through October. The nearby Pacific Ocean provides the needed humidity and moderate day temperatures and evening chilling to maintain fruit quality for the production months.

The following traits in combination distinguish strawberry variety ‘Taia’ from the known strawberry varieties. Plants for the botanical measurements in the present application were grown as annuals. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

‘Taia’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions, and the phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment. The following observations, measurements, and comparisons describe this plant as grown under normal conditions in Watsonville, Calif. unless otherwise noted.

Hybrid Patent Data Sheet (planted: October Year 1; measurement: November Year 2) ‘Taia’ (a.k.a. ‘108825’) Plant Plant Growth Habit semi-upright Day length neutral Plant season fall Height (mm) 370 Diameter (mm) 435 (the entire plant structure, including the “superstructure” of petioles, leaves, flowers) 70 (inner “base” or “heart” structure of the plant, i.e. the mature apical and axial crowns of the strawberry plant where petioles, flowers and runners are attached) Density of foliage medium Average number of crowns 3 per mature plant Plant vigor moderate Rain/weather tolerance moderate Harvest ease moderate Terminal Leaf Length (mm) 67 Width (mm) 84 Terminal leaflet 1.25 length/width ratio Blistering none No. teach/terminal leaflet 26 Shape of terminal leaflet obtuse base Shape of terminal leaflet in concave cross-section Margin description of the serrate to crenate terminal Shape of teeth obtuse Color of upper side of 137A leaves Color of lower side of 137C leaves Leaf glossiness medium to weak presence or absence of any absence leaf variegation Number of leaflets 35 Terminal leaflet margin revolute Terminal leaflet shape orbicular Terminal Leaflet shape of obtuse/conical apex Petiole Length (mm) 355 Width (mm) 3.5 Petiole pubescence medium Petiole pose of hairs outwards Petiole color 145A Petiolule Length (mm) 21 Width(mm) 1.8 Stolon Count (mm) 325 Diameter (mm) 5 Stolon number 12 Description of any 172A anthocyanin coloration Density of pubescence on medium the stolon Stolon thickness small Stolon pubescence medium Stolon color 146C Inflorescence Petal/flower Corolla diameter (mm) 22 Calyx diameter (mm) 26 Color of calyx 136A Pose of calyx segments reflexed Size of calyx in relation smaller to fruit Position of calyx inserted attachment Level of adherence of calyx Medium to high Petal length (mm) 15 Petal width (mm) 16 Petal length/width ratio 0.938 Petal shape orbicular Petal apex rounded Petal margin entire Petal base shape concave Petal spacing touching Petal number per flower 5 Upper petal color N999D Lower petal color 155C Sepal length (mm) 11 Sepal width (mm) 5 Sepal number per flower 12 Sepal shape elliptical Sepal apex convex Sepal margin entire Peduncle size (cm) 26.5 Stipules length (mm) 37 Stipules width (mm) 7 Stipule pubescence medium Stipule anthocyanin absence Stipule color 145B Inflorescence position even relative to foliage flower arrangement of touching petals Number of flowers per 24 plant Flower size large Number of stamen 30-35 Receptacle color 150B Anther color 12A Fertility self-fertile Time of flowering March Fruit Fruit/truss 5 Length (mm) 44 Width (mm) 38 Fruit length/width ratio 1.1 Core length (mm) 35 Core width (mm) 14 Fruiting truss length (mm) 98 Fruiting truss diameter 2 (mm) Truss color 145B Fruit skin color 41A Fruit weight (g) 26 Relative fruit size large Predominant fruit shape conical Difference in shape none to very slight between primary & secondary fruits Glossiness medium Position of achenes even Achene color 145A Achenes per fruit 127 Achene weight (g) 0.09 Width of the band without low to medium achenes Firmness of flesh medium to firm Color of flesh 41A Time of fruit ripening April Harvest maturity (50% of early plants with ripe fruit) Grams of fruit/plat 662 (during peak season, June) Appearance Score (from 1- 4 5, with 5 = best) Storage longevity (e.g., 10 7 to 10 days days to 2 weeks) Cull rate: Non salable fruit <15% production rate Disease and pest resistance not tested Acidity as measured by pH 3.26 Sweetness as measured by 6.3 brix

When ‘Taia’ is compared to the proprietary female parent, ‘Taia’ has a smaller calyx diameter and a smaller corolla diameter. In addition, the number of fruit per truss of ‘Taia’ is fewer than that of the female parent.

When ‘Taia’ is compared to the proprietary male parent, ‘Taia’ has a medium density of foliage, while the male parent has a high density of foliage. The plant vigor of ‘Taia’ is moderate, while the plant vigor of the male parent is high. The terminal leaflet margin of ‘Taia’ is revolute, while the terminal leaflet margin of the male parent is flat.

When ‘Taia’ is compared to ‘Seascape’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,614), the terminal leaf of ‘Taia’ has a serrate to crenate margin, while the terminal leaf of ‘Seascape’ has a crenate margin. The leaf glossiness of ‘Taia’ ranges from medium to weak, while the leaf glossiness of ‘Seascape’ is medium. The number of leaflets of ‘Taia’ is 35, while the number of leaflets of ‘Seascape’ is 49. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of strawberry plant named ‘Taia’ substantially as shown and described herein. 